Whitestone Rodders was established in 1975 and has clubrooms on Stoke St.
It is also an incorporated society and member of New Zealand Hot Rod Association (NZHRA), which has 105 clubs.
Whitestone Rodders president Geoff Omnet said there will be "cars everywhere" as part of the Matariki weekend celebrations.
He said over 200 people had registered for the event and they were coming from as far away as Whanganui.
"We’re really happy with the turnout.
"So many of the old hot-rodders have had a good time in Oamaru in the past, they’re arriving Thursday for a dinner at Scotts Brewery.
"On Friday, there is a visit to Rod Tempero Motor Body Builders, Riverstone Kitchen and Steampunk HQ, and all things Oamaru," he said.
The event also includes a drive to Macraes Mine and Hayes’ Engineering Works, a historic engineering site on the Saturday, and gold-mining villages Nenthorn and Moonlight, then dinner at the Brydone Hotel that evening, and a farewell breakfast on the Sunday, Mr Omnet said.
Whitestone Rodders run the popular drag racing event at the Oamaru Airport twice a year.
The club also hosts an annual "camp-out" on Waitangi Weekend at Danseys Pass, and club members attend out-of-town shows, drags and runs, Mr Omnet said.
The club has 60 members and eight social members, the oldest being 80 and the youngest in their early 20’s, he said.
Mr Omnet said hot-rodding, classic cars and street machines were a worldwide growing trend.
He said owning a hot rod was an "expression of one’s personality".
"They’re not all the same but mostly flash paint, fancy chrome and big engines," he said.
The club also hosts the Annual Memorial Run to remember past members who have died.
Mr Omnet said he was the only founding member left in the club, and several members had returned to the club after leaving to work elsewhere.
Whitestone Rodders has four life members, Mr Omnet, Ken Harper, Hank Robertson and Leigh Fellows.
